The Weekly Primer

Between their recent wallet lightening by the NBA and the potential scandal brewing over an unseemly Halloween photo involving Tim Duncan and Tony Parker, the Spurs packed more controversy into a week than they usually see in half a decade.

In their favorite domain on the hardwood, the Spurs enjoyed just another quality week. Pushing aside the national debate over Gregg Popovich’s decision to send four of his key players home prior to their visit to Miami, the Spurs extended the defending champions to the brink before falling in the final seconds.

It was the lone blemish on a 3-1 week capped by Saturday’s comeback over Southwest Division rival Memphis. The Spurs have a comparatively light week with a pair of home games before heading back out on the road — where they’re a league-best 9-2 — to face rejuvenated Charlotte.

The week ahead

Milwaukee, 7:30 p.m. Wednesday: The Bucks have cooled off a bit since their 4-1 start. They still present major challenges for a Spurs team suddenly weak on the perimeter with the backcourt tandem of Monta Ellis (18.7 ppg) Brandon Jennings (16.5 ppg).

Houston, 7:30 p.m. Friday: Linsanity has yet to take hold in Houston, where the former Knicks point guard is struggling to live up to last year’s hype. Not so for James Harden (24.1 ppg), who has been every bit the stalwart the Rockets were hoping when they acquired him from Oklahoma City.

at Charlotte, 6 p.m. Saturday: Last year’s door mat is no more, forged into a tougher, more cohesive unit by first-year coach Mike Dunlap. Looking at their numbers, it’s hard to figure out how. But with seven victories, the Bobcats have already matched last year’s total.

Around the NBA

Oklahoma City at Brooklyn, 7:30 p.m. Tue.: The Thunder have quietly climbed back near the top of the West.

New York at Miami, 7 p.m. Thu.: A potential playoff preview between the top two teams in the East.

Lakers at Oklahoma City, 8:30 p.m. Fri.: A rematch of last year’s playoff meeting, won by the Thunder.

* What’s that you say? You were somehow one of 12 people on the planet without Internet access and didn’t hear about the $250,000 fine levied against the Spurs after…well, read the details here. Suffice to say, we haven’t seen that kind of controversy around these parts since Texas was annexed in the mid 1800s.

* A listless home loss to Orlando in Dwight Howard’s first game against his old team dropped the Lakers back under .500 at 8-9. This, despite having played more home games (12) than any other team in the league. Pau Gasol is ailing, Steve Nash has no set return date and the Lakers are about to play seven of their next eight on the road.

* Rasheed Wallace, don’t ever change. Even as he approaches 40, with two seasons as a retiree to contemplate a kinder, gentler approach, Wallace is just as big a hothead as ever. Witness his ejection just 85 seconds into his appearance in Sunday’s game against Phoenix for bellowing his signature catchphrase: Ball Don’t Lie.

* Another young phenom isn’t so lucky. Rookie center Anthony Davis, who has played brilliantly for New Orleans when he’s been healthy, remains on the shelf for at least another week as he recovers from the stress fracture in his left ankle.

* It wouldn’t be a Weekly Primer without an Andrew Bynum update. While things have died down on the injury front, news has surfaced that young Andrew is being sued for being a horrible neighbor. His alleged transgressions include loud music, drag racing in residential neighborhoods, weed smoke, and brandishing weapons — all the necessary elements for a hip-hop opera.